How To Unlock Verizon Galaxy Note II Bootloader

The Verizon Galaxy Note II’s bootloader has been unlocked! Verizon is and has been infamous for locking down all the devices it has to offer but fortunately, Android users have had the support of a massive developer community that is determined to defy all such ridiculous restrictions. Earlier, the DROID DNA from HTC had its shackles broken and now, the Note II has joined the list as well, thanks to recognized developer and XDA’s Elite Recognized Developer AdamOutler. Custom recoveries and ROMs like CM 10.1 are now a possibility and luckily, the unlock method isn’t that complicated either, unlike the unlock for the DROID DNA. So if you own the Note II and are yearning for an ‘in your face, Verizon!’ moment, read on after the break!

If you’ve owned Samsung Android based devices before and have rooted them, the unlock method should not be much different from what you have been customed to, as it use ODIN to flash the required files the standard way. So let’s jump straight to it; here’s how you can unlock the bootloader.

Disclaimer: Please follow this guide at your own risk. AddictiveTips will not be liable if your device gets damaged or bricked during the process.

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To begin, download all the files from the links above, and install ODIN as well as the USB drivers on your PC.

It is highly recommended you take a backup of all important data at this point.

Run ODIN and click the PIT button to select the PIT file you downloaded from the link above. Once selected the file should appear in the box next to it.

Now click PDA to select the ROM’s .tar file. Keep everything else EXACTLY as it is.

Put the phone in Download mode. Assuming your phone is off, hold down the ‘Volume Down’ and ‘Home’ key as you power on the device. When prompted, hit the ‘Volume Up’ key to enter Download mode.

Connect the phone to the PC via USB. The device should show connected in ODIN. Once you’re sure it’s connected, simply hit the Start button.

After the ROM and PIT file are flashed (it may take a while), the device will reboot.

Once the OS boots, make sure to enable USB Debugging in ‘Settings’ > ‘Developer options’.

Run CASUAL and follow the on-screen instructions, as it does everything itself. At the end when it prompts that the device will boot into recovery mode, it will actually be booting into Download mode. Do not close CASUAL.

Run ODIN once again and add the PIT file as done in step 3.

Click PDA and select the ‘Suck It Verizon Odin Package’.

After all the files are loaded, hit the Start button to begin the flashing process.

Once flashed, the device should boot into the TWRP touch recovery. Reboot into Android from recovery and when CASUAL prompts that you have been unlocked, close it and you’re good to go.

Before you get all excited, please note these very important words: DO NOT FLASH any bootloader to your device other than Verizon or Verizon unlocked bootloader, otherwise your device will be unable to work on Verizon network and you will be stuck trying to operate it on different network carriers. Also be careful NOT TO FLASH anything on the Note II that has an ‘sboot.bin’ file in it.

For updates and queries, head over to the forum thread at XDA-Developers linked below.